Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS): Admissions, Programs, Scholarships & Student Life Guide

Thinking about studying in Japan and looking for a university that lives and breathes languages, cultures, and global affairs? Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) is one of Japan’s most storied national universities, devoted to language education and area studies since the 19th century. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what makes TUFS special—from programs and labs to campus life, exchange options, climate, costs, and career outcomes—so you can decide if it’s the right fit for your goals. Every section links to official sources for easy verification and deeper reading.

Quick Facts: Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS)

Field	Detail	Source
Type	National (Public) University	JPCUP Profile (EN)
Total Students	≈ 4,300 (undergraduate & graduate combined; latest figures vary by year)	About TUFS (EN) / Facts & Figures (JP)
Campuses	Main campus: Fuchu, Tokyo	Access & Contact (EN)
Faculties/Schools	School of Language & Culture Studies; School of International & Area Studies; School of Japan Studies; Graduate School of Global Studies	Schools / Education (EN)
수업료	Admission fee ¥282,000; Tuition ¥535,800/year	School expenses (EN) / Fees & payment (EN)
Gender Ratio	See latest TUFS Data (yearly update)	Students (as of May 1, 2024) – PDF (JP)
Intl-Student %	Varies by year; see “International Students by Country/Region”	International Students (as of May 1, 2025) – PDF (JP)
Students per Staff	~18:1 (indicative)	About TUFS (EN) / Overview Data 2025 – PDF (JP)

Campus Maps

Fuchu Campus (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)

Address: 3-11-1 Asahi-cho, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8534, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) traces its roots to institutions established under the late Edo shogunate and early Meiji era, evolving into a modern national university dedicated to languages and area studies. Over time, TUFS expanded academic offerings to include not only language acquisition but also deep interdisciplinary inquiry into regions, societies, and global issues. This mission—bridging language, culture, and contemporary challenges—remains central today. For a succinct institutional overview, check the university’s History page (EN) and the latest Fast Facts (EN).

TUFS’ identity is visually represented by its emblem and peony-inspired colors, renewed for the 150th anniversary to reflect both tradition and openness. If you care about brand and symbolism, you can read the background on the logo and university colors here: Logo & University Color (EN).

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Global Language & Area-Studies Core (Flagship Strength)

TUFS is widely recognized for comprehensive language education paired with area studies. Undergraduate schools include the School of Language & Culture Studies, the School of International & Area Studies, and the School of Japan Studies, alongside the Graduate School of Global Studies. Program overviews and curriculum structures are outlined on the official Schools / Education page. For career pathways in specific schools, see Language & Culture Studies Careers 그리고 Japan Studies Careers.

World-Class Area Research: ILCAA & LingDy

The Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA) hosts cutting-edge projects on language documentation, typology, and regional studies, often collaborating across disciplines and borders. Explore ILCAA’s English site here: ILCAA (EN). For a taste of language documentation initiatives and outreach (including workshops and resources), see the LingDy project: LingDy (EN).

Structured Costs & Scholarships for International Students

As a national university, TUFS follows Japan’s standard fee scheme: Admission fee ¥282,000 and tuition ¥535,800/year. Refer to the official fee pages for details, exemptions, and updates: Fees (EN) 그리고 Student Fees (EN). For living costs in Japan, see JASSO’s overview: Study in Japan – Living Costs.

International Student On-ramps: JLPTUFS & ISEPTUFS

For exchange and non-degree students, TUFS offers structured Japanese language courses (JLPTUFS) with clear placement and registration timelines. Check the latest English outline for Spring 2025 here: JLPTUFS Spring 2025 (PDF). For course registration guidance (sample from Spring 2024), see: ISEPTUFS Guidebook (PDF).

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles

TUFS has student clubs and circles that welcome international participation. Start with the official overview of extracurriculars: Extracurricular Activities (EN). For recent features and events (JP), see TUFS Today: Clubs Feature (JP) and an example of circle guidance for exchange students here: Club/Circle Guidance (EN).

Visas, Housing & Counseling

Official visa guidance for exchange/non-degree students is maintained here: Immigration (EN) and general visa preparations: Preparing for TUFS – Visa (EN). International student resources: International Students (EN). Annual info sheet (AY2025) for partner coordinators/students: Info Sheet 2025 (PDF). For counseling services (EN): Student Counseling (EN).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

TUFS maintains a large global network of partner institutions enabling fee-waiver exchanges and credit transfer arrangements. The official partner list is here: Partner Institutions (EN). As a concrete example from North America, see the University of British Columbia’s partner page for TUFS: UBC Go Global – TUFS.

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Weather Overview (Tokyo)

Tokyo’s climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters. For monthly normals and historical charts, use the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) tools: monthly tables for Tokyo station (WMO 47662): JMA Monthly Climate Table (EN) and climate overview: Climate of Japan (EN).

Safety & Preparedness

Japan and Tokyo provide extensive safety information for residents and visitors. See the National Police Agency’s annual digest (EN): Police White Paper 2024 – Digest (PDF), and the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s multilingual portal: TMPD (EN). Disaster-readiness guides by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (EN): Disaster Readiness Guide (PDF) 그리고 Disaster Preparedness Tokyo (PDF).

Cost of Living

Living costs depend on neighborhood and lifestyle. For official, practical guidance, use JASSO’s pages: Living Costs (EN) and related sections for accommodation and fees.

International Student Statistics

TUFS publishes breakdowns of international students by country/region and status. See the latest “International Students by Country/Region” (as of May 1, 2025): TUFS Data 2025-08 (JP, PDF). Also check the annual data compendium (e.g., gender, staff, etc.): TUFS Data 2024 (JP, PDF).

Career & Graduate Prospects

Graduates from TUFS pursue careers in global companies, media, government, NGOs, education, and research. For examples of destination sectors and employers, see the schools’ career pages: Language & Culture Studies – Careers 그리고 Japan Studies – Careers. Practical visa procedures (for international staff and researchers in Japan) are also documented here: Visa Procedures (EN).